Manifolding device



Patented Mar. 26, 1935 MANlFoLDrNG lnrzvmla:

William J. Wiswall, Oakland, Calif., assignor', by mesnel assignments, to American Sales Book Company, Limited, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, v

acorporation of Ontario, Canada Application April 12, 1922, serial-No. 551,971 12 claims. ((11.282-16) This invention is in some of its aspects a continuation of my copending application No. 452,- 512, filed March 15, 1921.

This invention `relates to a manifolding machine adapted to make asmanifold record on duplicate forms, and particularly to such machines having a mechanical or automatic feeding mechamsm.

`An object of the invention is to provide "a simple, inexpensive and compact machine of the class described, which shall be convenient to operate, 1 'and simple, accurate and reliable in its function- Otherobjects of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,,combinations of elements, 4and arrangement of parts, which 'will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure l is a plan view of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section of the machine; l

Fig. 3 is a cross section in the line 3 3 of Figure 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross section in line 4--4 of Figure 1; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of one of the strips employed. y

Referring to the drawings in detail and particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the character' A indicatesin general a casing consisting of a bot: 'tom section 2, a pair of side sections 3, a stationary end section 4 and a pivotally mounted end section 5. Mounted between the casing within the side plates for the purpose of forming the compartments indicated at '7, 8 and 9 is a pair of transverse plates 6,4 and forming a closure for the several compartments is a writing tablet or plate 10, a cover 11, and a second vcover l2. The cover 11 is disposed above the compartment 9 and is hingedly supported on one side of the machine as 'at 13. The cover 12 forms a closure for all of the compartment'land in part for ythe compartment 8, it being also supported by being hinged on one side as at 14. The cover section 11 is cut out as at l15 to expose the writing` tablet or plate 10 over which the sheets to be written on are passed during the operation of the machine.

These sheets are preferably made in the form of a single padto supply allof the copies of the record desired in the machine. By thus furnishing a unitary web slipply'thereplacement of the sheets in the machine `is accomplished with a., 5 maximum of ease. The sheets are arranged in the supply in sets adapted to be fed together over the tablet, the sets 4being connected together end .to end to forma compositetraveller strip, each ystrip of which forms one leaf of each set. f

In the making of a plurality of copies it is desirable that the sheets fo`r receiving the record have forms printedthereon to assist 'in the interpretation, and it is desirable that the machine shall be adapted to-insure that thekforms of a l5 vgiven set are in .registry with each other as they pass over the tablet. By providing the ,webs in a unitary padthe maintenance of registry is facilitated byreason of the fact that the delivery of one sheet from the pad assists in the delivery of the others. In order that the sheets may be brought into proper registry upon the tablet means are provided whereby the feed itself is determined by``the sheets and tothis end the web is provided with a recurring characteristic .bear-A ing a denite relation to the printed form and the feed is designed to cease functioning in response to that characteristic.

As illustrated, three separate strips 16, 17 vand 18 are provided which are overlaid in the supply, 30 being superposed upon each otherr and reversely interfolded in zigzag formation. EachY of these sheets preferably hasthe forms printed thereon successively andfeed control apertures similarly placed with regard to the leaves bearing definite relation to the printedforms. With this form of book the forms will be maintained in registry in the book,l and may be fed in registry over the tablet. The sheets of the pad B preferably bear one form upon each sheet and the strips may be L weakened between the `sheets to facilitate separation.

The feeding `mechanism is adapted to feed the .Y sheets until its operation is limited by the recur- 9 by opening the hinged end section 5. The sev- 55 eral strips are then passed between a series of separating and tension rollers 22. 23 and 23a, andare then passed over a series of guide rollers such 'as shown at 724i,` 25 and 26. The sheets are then l passed `over the writing pad or plate. lfIas shown in Fig. 2, and areflnally passedbeneath a spring pressed yfeedroll 27. 'Ihe roller 27, see particularf ly Figures 2 andV 3, is carried by a locking bar 28. A pair of vertically disposed self-adjusting bearing members 29 supports the roller; that -is the journals are vertically movable with relation to the locking bar, but'they normally hold `the roller 27 in a projected. position as springs30 are interposed between the inner ends of the journals and the bar. Extending crosswisepof the machine, and centrally of the chamber 8, is a shaft 31. This'shaft is rotatably mounted in Journal members 32j formed in the respective side plates. Secured on the shaft within compart.

ment Bis a pair of Yfeed rollers or disks 33 and 34. "Ihese strip feeding discs cooperate with the roller '7 when rotated to simultaneously feed the several strips lof the lmanifold pad ink a forward Vdirection'over the tablet as will herein- *after be described.

The feed mechanism just composite strip asthe feed is operated until it becomes ineffective to advance it further by engage-f ment with anapertureinthev strip. Thereupon by :reason of the fact thatv the contact between the disk and the roll'isof lessarea 'than the aperture the feeding ceases. The diflerent'sets canthus bebrought successively overthe said tablet with'theleaves in superposed relation, and in registry. Moreover the feed mechanismeml"pioyed Vand the type of pad employed cooperate `to insure that the sheets are fed from the supplyin unison, thus .facilitating their beingV fed over vthe tablet in registry. The strips are moreover separated as they leave the pad and are preferably maintained substantiallyA independent oi' each other byfbeing kept out of 'contiguit'yl sub-` "stantially tothe point where they pass over the tablet, in orderthat they may be fed over the transfer' sheets without dlfhculty. They are, however, maintainedin proper juxtaposition so that they may be readily maintained in registry by the feeding mechanism.

Secured on the outer end of shaft 3l is a hand actuatedV crank 35. Disposed infthearcof movement of said crank is a pin 36. Thispin is 'norma-lly projected by'a spring A37, but may be depressed rwhen it is desired to rotate the crank.

The locking bar 28 is pivotally attachedv to one of the side plates as indicated at 38 so that it may be openedv and closed; It is however locked in positionwith relation to 'the feeding.l disks l33 and 34when'lowered by 'means of the latch and'l keepver indicated at 39and 40, respectively. The vlatch l 39 is adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the keeperthrough 'means' of a push button 41. 'I'he button 41 is provided with a pin extension 42 as is also the latch 39; the pins on v the respective members being tied together by a connecting bar 43. AQ spr'ing`44interposed between the button and the inner end of the recess in which it is guided normally retains the latch in engagementwith-the keeper and similarly re-v tains the button in a projectedposition. Therefore if it is` desired to release'theIk locking bar 28, it is merely necessary to depress thebutton( Conversely, if itis desired toy lock the bar it is meredesclbel'il 15'.'` adapted 'to grip, the strips or webs between the resilient *roll and thegdisks, 4andttl'iereby to advance the ly necessary to depress it until rengagement is made between the latch and the keeper when it is vautomatically locked,

The feeding disks 33 and 34 are connected-by a cross bar 45. see Fig. 3. This bar carries apair of feeding lugs 46, one disposed at each end thereof, and it also insures unitaryrotation of th'edisks. lltadially disposed in a seatin the disk 34 is a registeringpin 47 which is automatically projected by means of a spring 48. The position of the pin is however normally depressed and it is retained in this position by means of a latch 49 which is carried by a pin 50,- surrounded by fa lspring 5l, the spring normally maintaining:

the latch inA locked. position. The means herein `disclosed for depressing or retracting the pin 47 usl after projection thereof by the spring 48 embodies' the feed roller 7 mounted upon the swinging lockl ing bar 28. Thus,. to effect pin retraction the raised locking bar 28 is swung downwardlycar-A rying the roller into its stripfeedlng position and into contact with` the projected pin so as to retractthe latter causing it to .be latched in its depressed position by means of the latch 49.

The pin 50 aligns with the connecting bar- 43 and is engaged thereby when the button 41 is depressed, that is, depressiongof button14i does-not only serve the function of releasing the keeper 40 lof the locking.;bar 28, but italso imparts endwise movementvto the pin 50 and the latch 49 carried thereby,` thus simultaneously vreleasing the registering pin 47 when the locking bar is released.

Individual strips ofthe manifold pad are, 4as

written or otherwise applied to the uppermost form. Ineffecting this transfer a `series of trans-A fersheets suchas generally indicated vat C is employed. Theselsheets are ldisposed in roll fonnaticnin a pocket 60 formed in one ofthe xthe printed forms onvthe underlying strip and to insure transfer in registration of the. .matter side plates. There may be two or more separate f transfer vsheets in a `roll Aand these are disposed transversely with relation to the recordV strips so that they may be interleaved with relation thereto. As the transfer sheets may be employed a considerable numberV of. timesr before. change or advancement thereof is required, means forse- `curing their free ends isyprovided. This means consists of a spring actuated rod 6l,v which cooperates` with a recess in ,the cover'indicated at 62. The rod cooperating therewith formsa spring clamp or detentwhich secures the free ends of.'

the sheets, vthus preventing accidental releasey or movement of the same when `themanifod strips arebeing advanced to bring a new setof=forms in writing position. y, l e i y .Y i 'In actual operation if it is desired to place a manifolding bookorl pad in the. compartment v9,

vthe locking bar 28 is released; by merely depressing lthe push button 4l. The locking bar is g then swung a,bout its pivot l3,8 so as to clear the side of the machine and itis thenupossibleto raise the covers 11 and r12. lIt will'be observed that the edge of the cover l2 adjacent to the feeding mechanismprojects slightly in under the wall of the locking vbar 28, forming` the cutting edge 7l whereby said cover is retained below. A manifold pad as illustrated at B is then placed in compartment 9 and the free ends of the strips are passed upwardly betweenthe rollers 22, 23 and 23a. They are then separated by the rollers 24, and 26, and areadvanced over the writing pad until theforemost apertures or punched portions 21 of the strips register with the feeding rolls or .disks 33 and 34. Pin 47 stands in a projected position at this time, and toinsure alignmentl of the strips, and particularly registration of the printed forms, thead- `vance aperture in each I.strip isapplied tothe pin. When' placing the forms in position,A .the cover 12 maybe raised whenthe rst strip is passed over the `pin and thenr closedbefore the remaining strips are placed. permits the lowermost of the stripsto be passed downwardly into thecoxnpartment 7 and the two uppermost strips to be separated with relation thereto by the separating edge 70 formed on the cover, and to be severed when desired the locking bar hav.-

-ing been lowered to closed'position. Previous to -the separation of the lowermost strip from the uppermost strips, it is best to interleavel the several strips by passing the transfer sheets between the same. When this has been accomplished, the vcover 1`1 may be lowered and thus secure the free .ends of the .transfersheets as indicated at 62. The strips may now be registered by the pin and separation may be accomplished by passing the free end oi!A the lowermost strip into compartment 7. The cover l2 is then'closed and the locking bar is nally .lowered into position nd locked, when the machine is ready for operaion. v v

We will now suppose that' the machine i's'being employed in a store, and that a sale has been recorded by filling in the blankportions of .the uppermost form which is disposed in alignment with theA writing opening 15.y After record of the saleha's. been made. it `'may 4be desirable to lgive a' duplicate to thecustomer, to provide one or more .for iiles,'records, etc., andfurthermore to obtain a vsecretcopy which cannot readily `be altered or changed. Therefore .after the sale has been recorded by writing on the form lor. otherwise, the crank v35 is turned one revolution.v This is accomplished by first. depressing the. button 36 andv then turning the 'crank;. the, crank being turned until the button is again engagedfThe feeding disks 33 and 34 are rotated by means of the crank, the lowermost copy is directed into the secret'compartment '7, this being accomplished by forming a sharp lip '70 on the forv ward edge of the cover sectionl2. The remaining strips are defiectedupwardly by this lip asr the upper surface isslightly inclined and they. may thusy be severed along the weakened lines 20. see

v Fig'. 5, as these will register with a tearing or cutting lip '7l formed on the rear side of the locking bar 28; that is such registry will be obtained when the crank has completed its revolution, or

yin other words Vwhen the forms have been cornpletely advanced.. 'The' uppermost strips containing the forms may .then be torn to'removejthc inscribed'` sections or leaves fori' illi'ng ork otherwise, whilethe secretcopy is depositedA inthe compartment 7 where it cannot be` tampered with `or altered. To further insure against removal of thesecret'copy', it is obvious that a lock may be employed'inconj'unction withthe cover 12, 'and .that means vmust be providedfor preventing reverse rotation of the shaft 31 and .the feedin8 disks 33 ,and .34.. This isv accomplished bysecuring a ratchet wheel'72- on the .shaft whichfis-at all times engaged by a -pawl '73, .th'ispawlbeing spring actuated, constantly engages the ratchet wheel thus preventingreverse rot'ation\of the shaft at all times. As'previously statedmeans areprovided for'aligning the v several stripszwhen `they. arerstplaced in position on'the rwriting vtablet or plate l10`; `this beingi accomplishedgby projecting the registering pin apertures 21'over the same., This operationj njot only provides for alignment of'thestripsbut also insures perfect register of the printed forms,.an d -such registry is `automatically maintained 'once the machine isstarted, due tothe provisionofjthe apertures12l, and is accomplished as follows: 1;..

x The .apertures are inalignm'ent Yviritlrrthe feeding disks'33vk and 34 and the several strips arejfed by thev pressure exerted between the roller `2 l and the disks. Now it willbe'perceivedthatv whenv the apertures .come into alignmentwith the roller 27 and the disks'33 `andj '3 i ,ia void or space will be formed so that the grip on the strip will cease `and further movement ofthe paper arrested. with the disks penetrating* lthe apertures. In actual practi'ccfit is'foundthat the uppermost strips have'y aslight tendency to lag.' so that the apertures on the lowermost strip will reach the roller` 2l rstfand the apertures those in the lowermost strip." vThe feeding disks will therefore advancethe uppermost strips until the apertures in the several stripsfrefgisterand the feeding disks 33 and 34. will'therefore continuev rotating withouty further advancement lof the paper'as the grip 'on' the paper'may belost,

dueto the void or space formedby the apertures. Such continued movement of the feeding disks is however. prevented in the 'present embodi- `proportions of the feeding disks 33 and :34' with .with the writing opening. During the' advance of the several forms which takes place when the vposite the roll 27.

.ment as the crank 3`5I wi1lfat this tirrierealchtlie stop `member 36 .andrnay not be further .rotated until the stop is again depressed. This however should notitake place until the advance of Ithe next set o fiforrnsis tobe started.

: It will thus be obvious that the outer periphery i ginning ofthe feeding movement. andI they are. properly positioned relative to the pin 47 to that end. The stop 36 is arranged toarrest the handle while the record sheets arein registry upon the tablet, which will ordinarily besubstantially when the pin 47 and the lugsi have come op- Byv referring to Fig. 2, it will beV seen that the cover section 12 is provided with a curved guide near its forward end and a spring arm 92 which is pivotallyattachedas atl 93. This guide is provided for the purpose of 4detlecting the secret copy in a downward'direction and the arm serves as a weight, thus insuring proper folding of the copy strip as it enters. It will further befseen that the cover 'is slotted as at 81 and 82 and that 'a pair of rollers 83 is journalled under the cover adjacent said slots; said rollers supporting an endless belt 84 whichpasses under other projection 8T by which it moved lengthwise. The score card remains stationary and may be removed, aligned or otherwise prepared to receive any data desired. For instance asalesman may'wish to make a separate record showing the totals of each salel and may wish to indicate such notes on the score card. He therev fore moves the belt until the transverse slot 86 registers with the topmost line ofthe score card. He then writes through the slot andenters the data desired, and then advances the belt yuntil'the slot registers with the next line on the card. The

salerecorded on the' card is thus covered up and cannot be viewed by the general public and the slot is simultaneously moved to the next line where a new sale or other data may be recorded.-

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desireto secure by Letters Patent is l. A device of the character described,in combination, a casing adapted to contain a web supply comprising'a plurality of strips having forms thereon and control aperturesin registry with said forms, a feeding mechanism for advancing said strips, rendered ineil'ective to advance by engagement with an aperture, said feeding mechanism comprising a pair of feed rolls adapted to engage said strips between them to grip and advance the same, one of said rolls movable toward and from they other, a pin. rotative with one otsaid rolls and reciprocally movable relative 'to the latter roll transversely of its axis of rotation, and a spring` adapted to urge said pin to position projecting beyond the periphery of said latter roll.

2. In a device'of the characterdescribed in lcombination, spaced feeding disks and a radially disposed pin carried by one of said disks,` a lock bar. transversely disposed with relation ktothev disks, a pivotal support for said bar, a pair ofV vertically movable journal members carried by the bar, a roller journalled in said members and engageable with the disks, a locking member for the locking bar, and means actuated by said locking member for'projecting the' pin on one of said disks. l y

3. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a casing adapted toV contain a web supply comprising a plurality of strips having forms thereon and control apertures in registry with said forms, a tablet, a shaft Journaied in said casing can'ying disks in alignment with the y apertures, a rollerabove 'said disks adaptedA to make contact therewith of less area than the'area of the apertures, a resilient support for said roller v pin.

to retain it in position to advance the strips until an aperture is reached, a pin on one of the disks in position to be projected through said apertures and means for projecting and retracting said 4. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a casing adapted to contain `a websupply comprising a plurality of'strips having forms thereon and control apertures in registry with said forms, a tablet, ashaft journaled in said casing carrying disks in alignment with the apertures, a roller above said disks adapted to make contact therewith, ofless area than the area of the apertures, a resilientv support for saidroller to retain it in positionvto advance the strips until an aperture is reached. a spring pressed pin on 'one' of said disks in 'positionto be projected supply, a pin projectableV into the pathway of said perforations to engage the latter to permit prealignment of the web, an element movable to open the feeding means to permitv the insertion of the web therein,A said pin being adapted to be withdrawn from "the pathway of the perforations by the movingvof saideleme'nt'to close the feed. 8. Ina machine of the class described, in combination, a casing adapted to contain a web supply having perforations in definite relation to forms printed thereon, and meansto advance the superposed strips to'register the'leaves of each set in succession inl writing position, said means including a paper-gripping driven disk and an idler roll opposite thereto adapted to cooperate therewith, one of said elements jbein'g journaled 4in a bar whereby it may be moved to and' from the -other to permit the placing-of' thegpaper therebetween, a pin carried by one of said elements movable from a position in the pathway ofthe perforations to a retracted position, said pin being so associated with said bar that when said rolls are brought together for feeding purposes bythe movement of saidk said pin is automatically retracted out ot pain of the strips.

7; In a machine of the class described, in combination, a casing adapted to contain a web supply having perforationsin denite relation t'o forms printed thereon, and means togadvance the superposed stripsto register the Vleaveseof each set in vsuccession in writing position, said 'means' including a paper-gripping driven disk and an idler roll opposite thereto adapted to co operate y therewith, one of said elements being journaled in a bar whereby it may be moved to and from the other to permit the placing of the paper therebetween, a pin carried by one of saidan upper roller, a support for the roller hinged to the casing to swing with the roller out of position to permit threading of the machine, a' releasable latch for the support, an 4aligning pin'y in connection with the feeding mechanism, a latch for holding the aligning pin in inoperative position, and a common means to simultaneously release both latches.

9. -In a device of the class described, in combination, a. casing having a holding compartment' for a pad of interengaged reversely folded strips of paper or the like and a receiving compartment for receiving sundry of the strips, a Writing tablet between the compartments, means to advance the strips over the tablet, a'cover for the receiving compartment, the feedingmechanism including a roller, a locking bar for the cover hinged to the casing, and carrying the roller, and a latch for holding the locking bar in closed position.

10. In a device of the character described, a casing, having a compartment formed therein for the reception of a plurality of continuous paper sheets folded in zigzag form, aplate covering said compartment forming a writing tablet, a cover hinged to the casing, to enclose the tablet, said cover having an opening formed therein to permit exposure of a predetermined rarea of the tablet,

paper feeding means disposed at the forward against movement away from normal operative positions. l

11. In a `device of the character described,l in combination, a shaft, a pair of narrow interspaced feeding disks secured on the shaft, a cross bar connecting the disks, an auxiliary'feeding lug disposed at each end of the bar, manually operated means for imparting one revolution to the shaft and the disks carried thereby, means for automatically securingthe shaft against more than one revolution, means preventing reversal of the shaft, a feed roll disposed above the disks, a resilient mounting for said roll, a locking bar supporting the resilient mounting and the roll,

operative position by cooperationof said roll carrier. f t y WILLIAM J. WISWALL. 

